Plasmonic enhancement of zinc oxide light absorption for sunscreen applications

ABSTRACT

Zinc oxide compositions as well as techniques for plasmonic enhancement of zinc oxide light absorption for sunscreen applications are provided herein. One example method includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles; and coating at least one portion of the surface of each of the one or more zinc oxide particles with the metal particles. Another example method includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles; and blending the metal particles and the zinc oxide particles within a medium to create the sunscreen composition.

FIELD

The present application generally relates to chemical technology, and, more particularly, to sunscreen technologies.

BACKGROUND

Sunscreen creams and other such compositions are commonly used to prevent ultraviolet (UV) radiation (also referred to herein as “light” in this context) from reaching the skin of a human user and causing damage. It is noted that UV light is an electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength range between approximately 280 nanometers (nm) and approximately 400 nanometers (specifically, that is the range of UV radiation that is not absorbed by the ozone).

A common active ingredient of existing sunscreen compositions is zinc oxide (ZnO). ZnO is a semiconductor that has a specific band gap, and particles of ZnO used in existing sunscreen compositions are typically approximately 50-200 nm in size. Additionally, in existing sunscreen compositions, typical ZnO materials are capable of absorbing UV light (that is, blocking the UV light from passing through the sunscreen composition to be absorbed by the skin of the user) within a wavelength range of approximately 290 nm through only approximately 350-380 nm.

Additionally, high sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen compositions, which can absorb a large majority of the UV light in the range of 290-380 nm, require the addition of a higher density of ZnO particles, which causes the composition to become white and/or opaque due to light scattering from the ZnO particles, and which is an often undesirable property to consumers.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present invention, zinc oxide compositions, methods of fabrications thereof and methods of use thereof are provided. An exemplary method can include selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles. Such an exemplary method can also include coating at least one portion of the surface of each of the one or more zinc oxide particles with the one or more selected metal particles.

In another embodiment of the invention, a sunscreen composition can include multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium, and one or more metal particles coated on at least one portion of the surface of each of the multiple zinc oxide particles, wherein each of the metal particles comprises a plasmon resonance frequency that supplements the light absorption capabilities of the multiple zinc oxide particles.

Additionally, in another embodiment of the invention, an exemplary method can include selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles; and blending the one or more selected metal particles and the one or more zinc oxide particles within a medium to create the sunscreen composition.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a sunscreen composition can include multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium; and one or more metal particles and the multiple zinc oxide particles blended within the medium, wherein each of the metal particles comprises a plasmon resonance frequency that supplements the light absorption capabilities of the multiple zinc oxide particles.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a ZnO particle coated with multiple metal nanoparticles, according to an example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described herein, an embodiment of the present invention includes ZnO compositions as well as techniques for plasmonic enhancement of ZnO light absorption for sunscreen applications. As further detailed herein, one or more embodiments of the invention include generating ZnO compositions and methods of use thereof for effectively blocking more and/or all of the complete spectrum of UV light (that is, as noted above, the UV radiation that is not absorbed by the ozone, and which ranges between approximately 280 nm and 400 nm) while also preventing whitening effects caused by the scattering of light in the visible spectrum (that is, radiation between approximately 400 nm and 700 nm). As used herein, “scattering” refers to the deflection of rays of visible light from the rays' original path due to interaction with particle surfaces.

As further detailed herein, one or more embodiments of the invention include enhancing the light absorption of ZnO particles by using plasmon resonances. Such an embodiment of the invention can include coating at least one portion of the surface of a ZnO particle (of a sunscreen composition) with one or more metal particles (or nanoparticles) that exhibit plasmon resonances. Different metals have different resonance frequencies, and the metals used in connection with one or more embodiments of the invention can include, for example, silver (Ag) and gold (Au).

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the size of the metal particles used can dictate the resonant energy, wherein smaller particles have higher-energy resonances. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the size of the metal particles used can be less than 30 nm, such as, for example, between 5-10 nm.

As detailed herein, the metal particles themselves attenuate light at their respective resonant frequency. By incorporating the metal particles into the sunscreen formulation, the attenuation of light by ZnO is supplemented by the light attenuation of the plasmonic particles. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments of the invention, UV light is attenuated by the plasmonic metal nanoparticles.

By way merely of example, as the nanoparticle size of a metal such as silver decreases, the wavelength of the resonance blue-shifts. To enhance the absorption of a sunscreen composition/formulation at approximately 400 nm, at least one example embodiment of the invention can include using silver nanoparticles of approximately 10 nm in size.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a ZnO particle coated with multiple metal nanoparticles, according to an example embodiment of the invention. By way of illustration, FIG. 1 depicts metal nanoparticles 104-1 through 104-8 (collectively, 104) attached to and/or deposited upon a ZnO particle 102 within a sunscreen composition to enhance absorption of the ZnO particle 102 at a resonant frequency. By way of example, silver nanoparticles can be grown directly onto a ZnO particle, using the ZnO particle as a nucleation center. Additionally, in one or more embodiments of the invention, ZnO can be coated onto a metallic silver nanoparticle so as to encase the silver nanoparticle inside of a ZnO particle. One technique for carrying out such an embodiment can include solution approaches. Further, in yet another embodiment of the invention, plasmonic silver nanoparticles can be mixed and/or blended into the ZnO particle sunscreen composition.

As detailed herein, a coating as illustrated in the example embodiment of FIG. 1 can induce a surface plasmon resonance which supplements the light attenuation properties of the ZnO particle 102. Also, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the size of the metal particles/nanoparticles can be selected to create a resonance at a photon energy which is not adequately absorbed by ZnO, so as to complement the oxide's absorption properties. Further, the effect of the metal nanoparticles can be proportional to the number of nanoparticles used.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Step 202 includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles. The metal particles can include one or more silver particles, one or more gold particles, or a combination of one or more silver particles and one or more gold particles.

Additionally, each of the one or more metal particles can be of a size of less than 30 nanometers. By way of example, in at least one embodiment of the invention, each of the one or more metal particles can be of a size of between five and ten nanometers. Further, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the metal particles can include a number of the metal particles selected based on a desired attenuation magnitude proportional to the number of the metal particles selected.

Step 204 includes coating at least one portion of the surface of each of the one or more zinc oxide particles with the one or more selected metal particles.

Also, an additional embodiment of the invention includes a sunscreen composition that includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium, and one or more metal particles coated on at least one portion of the surface of each of the multiple zinc oxide particles, wherein each of the metal particles comprises a plasmon resonance frequency that supplements the light absorption capabilities of the multiple zinc oxide particles.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Step 302 includes selecting one or more metal particles to be used in conjunction with one or more zinc oxide particles in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the plasmon resonance frequency associated with each of the metal particles. The metal particles can include one or more silver particles, one or more gold particles, or a combination of one or more silver particles and one or more gold particles.

Additionally, each of the one or more metal particles can be of a size of less than 30 nanometers. By way of example, in at least one embodiment of the invention, each of the one or more metal particles can be of a size of between five and ten nanometers. Further, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the metal particles can include a number of the metal particles selected based on a desired attenuation magnitude proportional to the number of the metal particles selected.

Step 304 includes blending the one or more selected metal particles and the one or more zinc oxide particles within a medium to create the sunscreen composition.

Also, an additional embodiment of the invention includes a sunscreen composition that includes multiple zinc oxide particles suspended within a medium, and one or more metal particles and the multiple zinc oxide particles blended within the medium, wherein each of the metal particles comprises a plasmon resonance frequency that supplements the light absorption capabilities of the multiple zinc oxide particles.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of another feature, step, operation, element, component, and/or group thereof.

At least one embodiment of the present invention may provide a beneficial effect such as, for example, coating a ZnO particle with one or more metal particles to create a resonance at a photon energy that is not efficiently absorbed by the ZnO particle.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sunscreen composition for human use consisting of: a core zinc oxide particle suspended within a medium, wherein the zinc oxide particle is 50-200 nanometers in size; and (i) multiple silver particles, each encased in a zinc oxide particle, (ii) one or more silver nanoparticles, and (iii) multiple gold particles, all positioned on a portion of the surface of the core zinc oxide particle, wherein the portion is less than the entirety of the surface of the core zinc oxide particle, and wherein each of the encased silver particles, each of the one of more silver nanoparticles, and each of the multiple gold particles is a size of between five and ten nanometers.
 2. A method of creating a sunscreen composition for human use, consisting of: encasing each of multiple silver particles inside a zinc oxide particle by coating the surface of each of the silver particles with zinc oxide, wherein each of the silver particles is a size of between five and ten nanometers; and covering a portion of the surface of a core zinc oxide particle with (i) the encased silver particles, (ii) one or more silver nanoparticles, and (iii) multiple gold particles by depositing (i) the encased silver particles, (ii) the one or more silver nanoparticles, and (iii) the multiple gold particles on the surface of the core zinc oxide particle, wherein the portion is less than the entirety of the surface of the core zinc oxide particle, wherein each of the multiple gold particles is a size of between five and ten nanometers, and wherein the core zinc oxide particle is 50-200 nanometers in size. 